Bracing panel

ABSTRACT

A bracing panel  1  for bracing a wall having a wall frame  100  defining an internal space, wherein the bracing panel  1  includes a first bracing frame, a sheet panel  1   a  having a flat planar portion dimensioned to have at least the same height or width as the first bracing frame; and a second bracing frame adapted to retain and hold the sheet panel between the first and second bracing frames wherein the bracing panel is adapted to be positioned and secured within the internal space of the wall frame of the wall to be braced such that bracing panel is dimensioned to fit within the wall frame.

The invention relates to a bracing panel, typically a diaphragm bracing panel, for bracing a wall of a building.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The bracing of walls of a building is one of the vital components for assuring the integrity, stability and safety of a building.

All houses require bracing against lateral forces developing due to wind and earthquakes. Due to current design trends (open plan spaces, wider window openings etc). the role of bracing becomes more critical. This is particularly so for houses built in very high wind zones.

There are lots of important things that help a building stay up. These are some of the basic ones. Architects need to check out climate conditions like wind, speed and direction, temperature range and rainfall and things like stability and drainage before so they can design the right house for the land. Builders need to use the right tools and materials for the job. The building needs to be put together in the right order, starting with a strong structure using bracing to help stop the building from moving or shifting. A brace is made whenever a triangle shape is made in a structure.

A triangle forms the strongest brace because it won't buckle, bend or collapse out of shape when it is under pressure. With the wide selection of bracing systems being produced, the fixing techniques for each system are very involved and time consuming. Looking at current house bracing plans, there are a lot of difference types of bracing units, all have difference requirements when it comes to the installation and fixing to the foundations. Most of today's houses are designed with plasterboard as a major structural component, however is plasterboard able to prevent a house collapsing in high winds or an earthquake.

The prior and known bracing methods are varied and some are easy to install and others not so easy. They can also be expensive. The bracing of a wall can be done by angling a piece of timber between two upright members of a wall frame. Another widely used form involves using a metal strip in place of the angled piece of timber. More complicated methods involve using a plaster board or plywood to brace the wall frame.

The past or current methods are more time consuming and/or expensive to install. Also the inspection of the braced wall has to be done at a late stage in the building process which means the whole building process can be held up, pending inspection, at a very crucial stage in the building process and can lead to delays in completing the building.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a bracing panel, typically a diaphragm bracing panel for bracing a wall frame that ameliorates some of the disadvantages and limitations of the known art or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION.

In a first aspect the invention resides in a bracing panel for bracing a wall having a wall frame defining an internal space, wherein the bracing panel includes:

-   i) a first bracing frame; -   ii) a sheet panel having a flat planar portion dimensioned to have     at least the same height or width as the first bracing panel; and -   iii) a second bracing frame adapted to retain and hold the sheet     panel to the first bracing frame,     wherein the bracing panel is adapted to be positioned and secured     within the internal space of the wall frame of the wall to be braced     such that bracing panel is dimensioned to fit within the wall frame.

Preferably, the sheet panel has at least one end portion extending from a side edge of the sheet panel such that the end portion of the sheet panel is adapted to be positioned and retained between an outer circumferential edge of the first bracing frame and an internal outer circumferential edge of wall frame of the wall to be braced.

Preferably, the end portion extends from a bottom side edge of the panel sheet and wherein the end portion is adapted to be positioned and retained between the respective bottom outer circumferential edge of the first bracing frame and respective bottom internal outer circumferential edge of the wall frame.

Preferably, there are four end portions that extend from respective side edges of the panel sheet, wherein each end portion is adapted to be positioned and retained between the respective outer circumferential edges of the first bracing frame and respective internal outer circumferential edges of the wall frame.

In a second aspect the invention resides in a bracing panel for bracing a wall having a wall frame defining an internal space, wherein the bracing panel includes:

-   i) a first bracing frame; -   ii) a sheet panel having a flat planar portion with end portions,     the end portions are adapted to be positioned adjacent to and around     the circumference of the first bracing frame and the flat planar     portion extends and encompasses the internal area defined by the     first bracing frame; and -   iii) a second bracing frame adapted to retain and hold the sheet     panel to the first bracing frame,     wherein the bracing panel is adapted to be positioned and secured     within the internal space of the wall frame of the wall to be braced     such that bracing panel is dimensioned to fit within the wall frame     and that end portions of the sheet panel are positioned and retained     between the outer circumference of the first bracing frame and the     internal circumference of wall frame of the wall to be braced.

Preferably, the first bracing frame has a top portion, a first side portion, bottom portion and second side portion forming an open rectangular frame having an outer circumference and an inner circumference and defining an internal area.

Preferably, there are four end portions, a top end portion, a first side end portion, a bottom end portion and a second side portion forming an open rectangular frame, wherein each end portion is adapted to be positioned adjacent to and on the outer surface of the corresponding portions of the first bracing frame.

Preferably, the sheet panel has the same width and height as the first bracing panel.

Preferably the sheet panel is a diaphragm sheet panel.

Preferably, the sheet panel has at least the same height as the first bracing panel and has a width that is substantial less than the width of the first bracing panel, such that the sheet panel is in the form of a strip.

Preferably, the strip has a length that is at least equal to the greatest diagonal length of the first bracing panel and that the strip is positioned in a diagonal position to the first bracing panel.

Preferably, there are two strips that are positioned diagonally in a criss-cross position to the first bracing panel.

Preferably, the bracing panel has a depth that is substantially the same as the depth of the wall frame.

Preferably, the sheet panel is made frame metal, preferably galvanized sheet material or stainless steel or sheet or any sheet like metal material.

Preferably, the sheet panel is made from a rigid plastic material or any other suitable non-wooden material.

Preferably, the first and second bracing panels are made frame metal.

Preferably, the first and second bracing panels are made from a rigid plastic material or any other suitable non-wooden material.

Preferably the first and second bracing panels are made from wood.

Preferably, the end portions are foldable/bent into position.

Preferably, the end portions are foldable flaps that are adapted to be folded from a flat non-use state in the same plane as that of the flat planar portion to a use state in which the flaps extend at an angle to the plane of the flat planar portion, preferably at right angles to the plane of the flat planar portion.

Preferably the bracing panel is adapted to be plumb relative to the wall frame by way of suitable plumb means affixed to the bracing panel.

Preferably, the plumb means includes at least one screw means, preferably a Tek screw, affixed to the upper side portion of the bracing panel and adapted extend there-through such that an end of the screw means is adapted to be in contact with an internal surface of the wall frame so that in use the screw means can be adjusted to plumb the bracing panel relative to the wall frame.

In other aspects herein described

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a wall frame with a bracing panel in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cut away view showing the bottom portion of a wall frame with the bracing panel in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a full vertical cut-away view of the wall frame shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 (A-C) is a cut away view showing the various stages of construction in accordance to a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 (A-C) is a cut away view showing various stages of construction in accordance to a third preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a cut away view showing the bottom portion of a wall frame with the bracing panel in accordance to a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 Is a cut away view showing the top portion of a wall frame shown in FIG. 6

FIG. 8 is a side view of the wall frame with the bracing panel shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the bracing panel having diagonal sheet panel strips in accordance to a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following description will describe the invention to a preferred embodiment of the invention, namely a bracing panel.

FIG. 1 shows a wall frame 100 having a bracing panel 1, typically a diaphragm bracing panel.

The wall frame 100 has a top plate 13 and bottom plate 7 spaced from one another by vertical stud members 3, 9 and 11. The stud members 9, and 11 are evenly spaced apart by horizontal dwangs 10. The bracing panel spacing 20 between stud members 3 and 9 is adapted to accommodate the bracing panel 1. The bracing panel 1 has bracing frame members and a panel sheet 1 a, preferably made from galvanized sheet metal, aluminum, stainless steel, rigid plastic material or any other suitable non-wooden sheet like material or wood based material.

A bracing frame member consists of a bottom plate 17, top plate 13 and vertical side stud members 16 joined together to form a rectangular frame that is dimensioned to fit within the panel bracing spacing 20 with a 15 mm gap between the stud members 3 and 9 and the panel. The sheet panel 1 a has flat planar portion and folded/bendable end portions such as flaps along and adjacent to the planar portions circumference.

The foldable/bendable flaps 6 are adapted to be positioned between the respective plates and stud members of the inner frame member and wall frame 100. The planar portion of the sheet panel 1 a extends between and within the area 20 defined by the inner frame member. A second bracing frame member consisting of top, bottom and side battens 2, 5, 8, 14 which when assembled assists to retain the sheet panel 1 a to the first bracing frame member and to the wall frame 100. Suitable fasteners such as nails 4 are used to fix the battens and the sheet panel 1 a to the first bracing frame member (FIG. 2). Bolts 18 are preferably used to fix the first bracing frame member through the wall frame (FIG. 3) into the foundations. It is envisaged that other known forms of fixing can be used (or combination thereof) such as adhesives or adhesive/bolts/nail combination. The second bracing frame member also assists in providing rigidity to the bracing panel 1.

In situations where the spacing 20 between the stud members 3 and 9 is sufficiently wide an extra batten 12 and vertical stud member 16 can be used (see FIG. 1—batten 12 only shown).

In another embodiment the sheet panel la could be preformed with the end portions already at right angles to the flat planar sheet. Also, it is envisaged that the end portions could be set at any other angle for the purpose to which it is to be used.

The following paragraphs pertain to an embodiment of the invention (purely as an example only).

The bracing panels consisted of timber top and bottom plates, end studs and have two equally spaced nogs. Two equally spaced, intermediate-studs are also used for construction of the 1.2 m long walls. The walls incorporated galvanized steel sheet sheathing. The framing is cut from 90×45 mm kiln dried No 1 framing grade radiate pine (or can be supplied in the correct sizes by the mill). A 20 mm batten is cut off this timber leaving a residual section slightly less that 70 mm thick. The studs are fixed to the plates, and the nogs to the studs, with two 90 mm long power driven nails at each connection. Galvanized sheet steel (0.55 mm thick or any size sheet steel) is sandwiched between the cut off batten and residual timber and these three components are then fixed together with 65 mm long power driven nails at 100 mm centers.

The steel sheet terminates at the outside of the panel on all edges except at the bottom where is wrapped approximately 70 mm around the bottom of the bottom plate.

The bracing panels are designed to be inserted into opening of normal 90×45 mm framing with any overall height and studs at any centers. Hence the names 600 Panel and 1200 Panel for panels to be used between single and double stud spacing respectively, being the centerline to centerline distance between boundary studs. Special stud spacing is required for 375 Panels as described below.

There is a gap of approximately 15 mm between the outside edge of panel edge studs and the inside edge of the boundary framing members. A 100 mm long, 6 mm diameter Tek screw, located near the top of each end of the bracing panels, is used to both adjust the gap between boundary studs to plumb the frames, and also to connect the boundary studs to the panel end studs.

The panel width of the 375 panel=300 mm, and this the centerline to centerline dimension of the boundary studs is required to be the panel width+twice the gap between panel and boundary studs+one stud width (300+2×15+45=375 mm).

The bottom of the bracing panel sits directly onto the framing bottom plate and the top of the bracing panel is located immediately below the framing top plate. These joints are fixed together with a single 90 mm long power driven nail at 100 mm centers.

Fixing bolts through the two bottom plates connects the assembly to a concrete or timber foundation near the panel end studs

The studs of the panel frame are fixed to the bottom plate by a 135×50×5 mm L brackets used between the foundation bolt and panel bottom plate. The bolts are located so that the outside edge of the L bracket is fixed to the panels inside stud face by a 65 mm galvanized bolts with a 50×50 galvanized washer on the operate side of the outside panel stud.

Blocking with dimensions 90×30×15 mm is used between panel end studs and boundary studs at the two dwang lines to ensure no framing stud movement.

The bracing panel can be constructed off or on-site.

Preferably, the wall frame 100 is generally constructed first. Turning to FIG. 4 steps (A) to (C) show various stages of construction when constructed on site. The sheet panel 1 is ready for use by folding the flaps 6 to their use position, namely at least at right angles to flat planar portion. The fold flaps are positioned on the respective plates and stud members 7 of the wall frame 100. The first bracing frame member 30 is then assembled such that the respective plates and stud members 16, 17 of the first bracing frame member 30 are positioned on and above the folded flaps 6 such that the folded flaps 6 are sandwiched between the respective plates (and stud members 7, 17 of the wall frame 100 and first bracing frame member 30). The first bracing frame member is then bolted to the wall frame member. The flat planar member 1 now fully encompasses the internal space 20 defined by the wall frame 100 and the first bracing frame member. The second bracing frame member 40 is then assembled and fixed to the first bracing frame member 30 by nails 4 so as to retain and hold the flat planar sheet 1 in place.

In another preferred embodiment (FIG. 5) the bracing panel is constructed off site to the dimensions suitable to fit snugly within the dimensions of a particular wall frame. In this particular scenario the first bracing frame member 30 is assembled, then the sheet panel 1 is placed over and fixed to the frame 30 and the end flaps 6 folded/bent to lie adjacent and on top the outer circumference of the first bracing frame member 30 such that the sheet panel 1 fully encompasses the internal space 20 defined by the first bracing frame member 30. The end flaps can be glued to the first bracing frame member 30. The second bracing frame member 40 is then assembled on the side of the sheet panel 1 directly opposite to that of the first bracing frame member.

The second bracing frame member is fixed to the first bracing frame member to retain and hold the sheet panel in place. The complete bracing panel is then ready to be transported to the building site for attachment to the wall frame 100.

Turning now to FIGS. 6 to 8, which pertain to a further preferred embodiment of the invention?

A wall frame 120 surrounding a bracing panel frame 101 is shown. The wall frame 102 consists of top plate 121 and a bottom plate 122 spaced from one another by vertical stud members 123 such that the wall frame 120 defines an area in which the bracing frame 101 is positioned and situated.

The bracing panel frame 101 consists of a top plate 103 and a bottom plate 104 spaced from one another by vertical stud members 105.

The vertical stud members 105 are spaced apart by dwangs 106. The bracing panel frame further consists of a bracing panel 102, preferably made from galvanized sheet metal or any other suitable non-wooden sheet like material. The panel 102 is dimensioned to be at least of the same size as the bracing panel frame 101 and is adapted to be secured to the bracing panel frame 101. The panel 102 is secured to the bracing panel frame 101 by a secondary panel frame 130 such that the panel 101 is adapted to be positioned between the bracing panel frame 101 and the secondary panel frame 130. The secondary panel frame 130 consists at least of an outer frame consisting of top and bottom buttons 132, 133 spaced apart by vertical battens 131.

The secondary panel frame 130 and panel 101 are secured to the bracing panel frame 101 by suitable fasteners 109 such as adhesive, screws, bolts, nails, etc e.g. galvanized nails 109 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The combined bracing panel frame 101, panel 102, and secondary frame 130 is dimensioned to fit within the wall frame 120 and preferably has a depth that is substantially the same as of the wall frame 120.

The bracing panel frame 101 and the wall frame 120 are secured to another by suitable fasteners 112 such as galvanized nails, once the bracing panel frame is plumb by adjusting tek screws 114. The bottom portion 104 of the bracing panel frame 101 and the bottom plate 122 of the wall frame 120 are secured to the floor and or concrete foundation by a hex bolt 116 that passes through a bracket 115 fixed to the upper surface of top plate 104 and to the side of a vertical stud member 105.

Turning to FIG. 9, there is a further embodiment of the invention shown. In FIG. 9 the bracing panel 201 is assembled in the same way as the previous embodiments. However the difference is that the instead of a sheet panel that encompasses and has the same height and width of the bracing panel, the sheet panel in FIG. 9 consists of two sheet panel strips 202 (a) & 202(b). The strips are arranged and fixed to the bracing panel in a diagonal criss-cross fashion as shown in FIG. 9. It is envisaged that only at least one strip could be used and could be positioned in any suitable linear geometrical position e.g vertical, horizontal or angled relative to the horizontal. Similar for two strips any criss-cross arrangement is also envisaged.

The bracing panel system is easier to install for builders, compared with conventional bracing systems. The bracing panel system can arrive on site already installed in the frames by the pre-nailer and the builder only needs to bolt the bracing panels down to the concrete or bolt the bracing panel to the timber floor without the need for strapping.

Once the panel is bolted down the builder then needs to plumb the frames, by two Tex screws at the top of each bracing panel.

This is done by taking one Tex screw out from the top of the bracing panel, and then turn the other Tex screw to move the frame one way or the other this is only takes one builder to plumb frames.

Thus the builder, the designer and the engineer can take the complication out of bracing houses.

Using the bracing panel system, plasterboard glued to the walls only needs 6 screws per sheet because the plasterboard is no longer a bracing element, no more popping screws when the glue draws the plasterboard sheet in to the frames.

The bracing panel system is an independent bracing system that's already installed in the framing by the pre-nail framers. There is no need to reply on the outside cladding or the inside linings to brace a house. The bracing panel system braces the house at the framing stage which eliminated the need for temporary bracing. Thus saving the builder time, the client money and will provide a stronger bracing element.

The galvanized sheet is recessed 20 mm in the frame to eliminate any interference with the outside cladding e.g. polystyrene etc.

The bracing panel system can be used in flood prone areas ensuring that the structural integrity of the house won't be compromised.

Advantages

-   a) easy to assemble and/or install -   b) only needs to be inspected once -   c) strong and versatile -   d) cost effective -   e) less labour intensive -   f) no requirement for temporary braces -   g) less or no complications in the bracing of houses.

Variations

Throughout the description of this specification, the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprising” and “comprises”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth and as claimed in the appended claim set. 

1. A bracing panel for bracing a wall having a wall frame defining an internal space, wherein the bracing panel includes: i) a first bracing frame; ii) a sheet panel having a flat planar portion dimensioned to have at least the same height or width as the first bracing frame; and iii) a second bracing frame adapted to retain and hold the sheet panel between the first and second bracing frames, wherein the bracing panel is adapted to be positioned and secured within the internal space of the wall frame of the wall to be braced such that bracing panel is dimensioned to fit within the wall frame.
 2. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracing panel has a depth that is substantially the same as the depth of the wall frame.
 3. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sheet panel has at least one end portion extending from a side edge of the sheet panel such that the end portion of the sheet panel is adapted to be positioned and retained between an outer circumferential edge of the first bracing frame and an internal outer circumferential edge of wall frame of the wall to be braced.
 4. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the end portion extends from a bottom side edge of the panel sheet and wherein the end portion is adapted to be positioned and retained between the respective bottom outer circumferential edge of the first bracing frame and respective bottom internal outer circumferential edge of the wall frame.
 5. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein there are four end portions that extend from respective side edges of the panel sheet, wherein each end portion is adapted to be positioned and retained between the respective outer circumferential edges of the first bracing frame and respective internal outer circumferential edges of the wall frame.
 6. A bracing panel for bracing a wall having a wall frame defining an internal space, wherein the bracing panel includes: i) a first bracing frame; ii) a sheet panel having a flat planar portion with end portions, the end portions are adapted to be positioned adjacent to and around the circumference of the first bracing frame and the flat planar portion extends and encompasses the internal area defined by the first bracing frame; and iii) a second bracing frame adapted to retain and hold the sheet panel between the first and second bracing frames, wherein the bracing panel is adapted to be positioned and secured within the internal space of the wall frame of the wall to be braced such that bracing panel is dimensioned to fit within the wall frame and that end portions of the sheet panel are positioned and retained between the outer circumference of the first bracing frame and the internal circumference of wall frame of the wall to be braced.
 7. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first bracing frame has a top portion, a first side portion, bottom portion and second side portion forming an open rectangular frame having an outer circumference and an inner circumference and defining an internal area.
 8. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 7, wherein there are four end portions, a top end portion, a first side end portion, a bottom end portion and a second side portion, wherein each end portion is adapted to be positioned adjacent to and on the outer surface of the said corresponding top, side and end portions of the first bracing frame.
 9. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sheet panel has the same width and height as the first bracing panel.
 10. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sheet panel is a diaphragm sheet panel.
 11. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sheet panel has at least the same height as the first bracing panel and has a width that is substantial less than the width of the first bracing panel, such that the sheet panel is in the form of a strip.
 12. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the strip has a length that is at least equal to the greatest diagonal length of the first bracing panel and that the strip is positioned in a diagonal position on to the first bracing panel.
 13. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 12, wherein there are at least two strips arranged and positioned on the first bracing frame.
 14. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 12, wherein there are two strips that are arranged and positioned diagonally in a criss-cross position to the first bracing panel.
 15. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sheet panel is made from metal.
 16. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 15, wherein the metal is a galvanized sheet material or stainless steel sheet or any sheet like metal material.
 17. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 15 wherein the sheet panel is made from a rigid plastic material or any other suitable non-wooden material.
 18. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second bracing panels are made frame metal.
 19. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second bracing panels are made from a rigid plastic material or any other suitable non-wooden material.
 20. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second bracing panels are made from wood.
 21. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracing panel is adapted to be plumb relative to the wall frame by way of suitable plumb means affixed to the bracing panel.
 22. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 20, wherein the plumb means includes at least one screw means affixed to the upper side portion of the bracing panel and adapted extend there-through such that an end of the screw means is adapted to be in contact with an internal surface of the wall frame so that in use the screw means can be adjusted to plumb the bracing panel relative to the wall frame.
 23. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 8, wherein, the end portions are adapted to be folded or bent.
 24. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 22, wherein the end portions are foldable flaps that are adapted to be folded from a flat non-use state in the same plane as that of the flat planar portion of the sheet panel to a use state in which the flaps extend at an angle to the plane of the flat planar portion of the sheet panel.
 25. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 23, wherein the end portions are folded at right angles to the plane of the flat planar portion of the sheet panel.
 26. The bracing panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracing panel is rectangular.
 27. A method of assembling a bracing panel for use in bracing a wall having a wall frame defining an internal space, wherein the method includes: i) forming a first bracing frame; ii) applying a sheet panel to a planar surface of the first bracing frame, wherein the sheet panel having a flat planar portion dimensioned to have at least the same height and width as the planar surface of first bracing frame; and iii) forming a second bracing frame adapted to retain and hold the sheet panel between the first and second bracing frames, such that the formed bracing panel is dimensioned to fit within the wall frame, wherein, in use, the bracing panel is positioned and secured within the internal space of the wall frame of the wall to be braced.
 28. (canceled)
 29. (canceled) 